Cody, Cody, Cody…

I think you’re tilting at windmills here.

Doctors, just like any professional, can sometime make mistakes. If Hodgson’s back is in pain, why shouldn’t he see another doctor to make sure there’s no problem. It would be stupid for the Canuck’s to be upset at him for looking out for himself.

As you said: “it isn’t going to change the fact that he’s still going to have to play another season on the Battalion” so why do you care that he’s getting a second opinion. If it turns out there is a problem still, I’d rather have him sort it out now, than find out half way thru the season and possibly mess up his chances of being 100% at next year’s training camp.

” I don’t buy the “he’s just a kid” argument that everyone’s latched on to. He stopped being a kid when he was drafted by the Canucks. This is a professional league, it’s a business, it’s a place for adults, or at least adult like behavior. He’s expected to act professionally and represent the franchise, not doubt the franchise. Vigneault can sugar coat it to the public and say “He’s entitled to a second opinion” but in my eyes that’s second guessing a franchise that is above him and knows more about this game than he does.”

That statement is absurd. He “stopped being a kid when he was drafted”….really? Did he just gain the wisdom and character of a seasoned vet at that moment?

There are tons of reasons to give this kid a break, mostly his track record as a leader, and a hard worker at the every level he’s played at, and I believe he’ll be that as a Canuck as well.

Pardon Cody, for wanting to be sure IN HIS MIND that this isn’t going to be an issue. At no time does he imply that he was msitreated, or misdiagnosed. He has every right to do so.

I think it’s because he hasn’t gained the wisdom and character of a seasoned veteran, as you just pointed out, that he should just do what he’s told.

And yes he stopped being a kid when he entered the league. You look at other draft picks that are scrutinized and under the spotlight for their every action. Do you think Crosby would have gotten away with whining? With second guessing? Or would you have let him get away with the “He’s just a kid excuse?”

There’s certain places he can “be a kid” but I for one think he needs to do as the team tells him. Matt Pope was injured at the start of rookie camp. You didn’t see him going for second opinions. He did what the team told him and that was that.

But, it looks like I’m fighting a losing battle here.

Everyone is different Richard, and if I recall Sid the Kid did a little whining himself.

You’re making a mountain of a mole hill in my opinion. As I said if he whines this year, sucks for the rest of this year or has a crappy junior turney and then whines about you may have a case.

i don’t think Dick Loat knows what “tilting at windmills” even means – w/o google, that is.

the kid is gone (for now) – there’s more important things to talk about.

hey richard, i understand where you are coming from on this one for sure, obvisouly you are a little rattled the kid didn’t make the squad and for some reason, are jumping all over him. there is nothing wrong with someone searching for a second opinion, you see pitchers do it in baseball all the time, the yankees have team doctors that make more than the canucks doctors i’m sure and when a pitcher wants some advice from outside the organization, whats the problem with that? are they telling the baseball club that they don’t trust organization and the doctors? No, not at all, if anything they want that guy to do it and make sure he is taken care of. Cody is only 19 and of course he expected to make the team, what elite athlete and competitor would not. Lets let him grow and find his way, and enjoy his development, because this year will only make him better and in the long run thats what the team and fans want!
Love the blog! Keep up the good work and lets enjoy the home opener tonight!

If Eric Lindros had sought a 2nd opinion on his concussions early on, he’d might well still be playing instead of sitting in a darkened room holding his head in his hands.

I think it’s because he hasn’t gained the wisdom and character of a seasoned veteran, as you just pointed out, that he should just do what he’s told.

Seriously dude, I have nothing but respect for your hockey knowledge and love of the Canucks but I think you’re way off the mark here.

For one thing I think there’s a bit of a contradiction there. You say he should do what he’s told… which is what kids do, but then you say he’s not just a kid anymore.

And even then… is he really not allowed to have a mind of his own? He’s not a mindless puppet… and he’s not doing anything that would qualify as *not* doing what he’s told, either.

I know the bit about SJ is totally tongue in cheek on your part, but still, please just remember that nobody has ever found a lack of class in this kid.

first of all, its matt DUCHENE, mr i know everything about young hockey players. second of all, you dont know what your talking about. you say his back is fine and hes only doing this to make excuses and then u suggest he rehabs his back. Hodgson says his muscle tissue has not been reacting to the rehab properly and it showed in his play. These expert canuck trainers and doctors you speak of are the same ones who were working him out when he injured his back. I absolutely despise low lifes like you who bash our young blue chip prospect, try and create false animosity between him and the club, and then say how you hope he has great success. Go cover another team, ur not welcome in canuck land.

Welcome to Vancouver Cody, home of the most simple minded reporters in the game that wish nothing but the worst for their top prospects. They’ll pounce on any opportunity to drag a 19 year old kids name through the mud. Even if he has the class and character of a Trevor Linden. The Vancouver Media : lining up to bash you before you even arrive. Your next Schroeder.

Hodgson looking for a second opinion is a responsible thing to do. Yes, the Canucks have a fantastic medical staff that specializes in sports injuries. That doesn’t make them infallible at all.

Hodgson may well want the opinion of a doctor he’s seen before and who knows his medical history, or has specialization in another field or even simply might have a fresh set of eyes. Any two doctors looking at the same patient are likely to pick up different things from the doctor next to them. Same goes for specialists, physical therapists and other health care professionals. They remember different things that they’ve studied, they’ve experienced different cases and seen bodies react in different ways. It doesn’t necessarily make one doctor inferior to the other, but it does mean they might see something another doctor doesn’t or have a recommended course of treatment that would cause the body to react differently. And that’s okay. In fact, it’s great.

If the diagnosis is the same, then so be it. But there’s never any harm in making doubly sure that your body is okay, especially when you’re a professional athlete (or one day will be) and your career will depend on it.

If you would like to read posts by people who have a clue what they are talking about why not look on google.

Like most Canuck fans, I almost swallowed my heart when I first heard of Cody’s back injury. ALL he’s doing is getting a second opinion regarding one of the most important parts of a hockey player’s body, with no direspect to the Canucks. At age 19, it is much better that Cody get all the rehab and info on his back right now. Remember Mike Bossy and Paul Reinhart?? Had they had better treatment earlier in their careers on their respective backs, their careers would have been a lot longer.
Considering all the bad luck the Canucks have endured throughout their sad-sack history, a premature end to the career of their best bluechip prospect in years would be a terrible shame. Kudos to Cody. He’s doing himself and the Canucks a BIG favour.